Small hot-water tank, electrically heated



Dec. 11 1923.

A. WICKEY SMALL HOT WATER TANK, ELECTRIGALLY HEATED Filed Nov. 16. 1922 Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES ANDREW WICKEY, OF EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA.

SMALL HOT-WATER TANK, ELECTBICALLY HEATED.

Application filed November 16, 1922. Serial No. 601,417.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW WIOKEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at East Chicago, county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Small Hotater Tank, Electrically Heated, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in a small hot water tank, electrically heated, and more particularly to certain devices arranged in said small hot water tank, electrically heated, so that when the water arrives at a given temperature that the current is automatically turned off. It is also so arranged that when the water in the small hot water tank cools to a certain temperature, that the current is again automatically turned on, the arrangement being such so as to keep the water in the small hot water tank ever hot and ready for use.

It may be used as follows:

A small hot water tank installed into the hot water pipe line from the buildin hot water tank to the hot water faucet directly connected to the hot water faucet or practically so.

A small hot water tank which being directly connected to the hot water faucet of the lavatory at the basin, kitchen sink or wherever the faucet requiring it to deliver the water ever hot.

A small hot water tank directly connected to the hot water faucet with a pipe connection from its bottom connection nipple across to the cold water faucet supply pipe and in that manner the small hot water tank receives its water supply.

A small hot water tank being provided with an electric current water heater placed against its bottom and in that manner heating the water therein contained.

A small hot water tank with a thermostat located across the top thereof with one end fixedly enclosed against the inside of the head flange and the other end passing through the head flange on other side and projecting for connection to be made thereto.

A small hot water tank with a vertical noncurrent conducting piece on side of tank with its top hinge connected to tank above thermostat the end of which is connected to same, it extending to below over the ends of the electric wires and it being provided with a piece sheet copper hingedly fastened so as to adjust itself against ends of both wires thereby closing the current circuit to put the electric heater in service, then by the expansion of thermostat removing the copper contact thereby breaking the circuit putting the electric heater out of service.

My invention is illustrated by means of three figures, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the hot water tank, electrically heated; Figure 2 is the top plan showing the action of certain parts; Figure 3 is the base of said tank showing certain connections more particularly described as follows:

The tank proper consists of the shell or case 1 and the two heads 2 and 3. The upper or outlet end head has a short 1/2 nipple 4 cast into it and being placed eccentrically as shown. The lower or inlet end has also a short 1/ nipple 5 cast into it at the center. These nipples are for connections to the supply line and the faucet respectively.

The tank proper is surrounded on all sides except the bottom by a suitable insulation 6 in order to hold the heat in the water. This in turn is jacketed by the metal jacket 7 to keep the insulation in its place.

On the bottom of the tank is placed the heating coils 8 which are held in place by the split plate 9, which plate is flanged thru the center as shown and clamped to place thru its flanges by the sirens 10.

Across the top of the tank and under the insulation is the thernilostutic bar which bar made of some metal which has a high er;- pansive factor. This bar is held in place at one end by the clamp 12 and sidewise by the nipple 4 as well as by the slot where it passes thru the tank shell and the insulation. The outside end of the expansion bar is attached to the lever 13 by means of the pin 14. The fulcrum of the lever is at the pin 15 attached to the little bearing 16 which is in turnattached to the outer casing 7. On the lower end of the lever 13 we have a small bent copper plate 17 hinged loosely on the pin 18 in such a manner that when in contact the plate can make a tight connection between the two terminals 19 and 20 regardless of the angle of the lever 13. The wires formipg the terminals 19 and 20 are cut into the feed line to the heater so that the current will be controlled by the operation of the lever 18. The lever 13 and its connections are all covered by the metal protection 21 which slides over the lever 13 into the small clamps 22 which are welded to the outer casing 7. The protection 21 is held to place by the screw 22 alter it has been slid into place.

The operation of the device is as follows:lhe current carrying wires are attached directly to the terminals 19 and 20, altl'ioug h a switch may be placed in the line i1? desired When cold water enters the tank, the tcn'iperature of the bar ll reduced and it contacts, thus pulling on the lever thru the pin ll. The lever 13 moves toward the center of the tank and the plate 1! comes up against the terminals 19 and 20, thus closing,' the circuit and energizing the heating coils 8. the water heats, the bar gradually expands until at a predetermined temperature (governed by the length of the bar) the movement of the free end ot' the bar great enough to force the lever 12-; over liar enough to break the connection between the connection 17 and the terminal 15) and 20. (living; to the proportion of the lever arm below the pin let to that of the arm abov Il-lbeing so great it only requires a very slight movement of the .trce end of the thermostatic bar 11 to cause a large movement of the plate 17. Thus a movement oit l/(il of an inch at will cause the connection 1? to move 13/ o-l or nearly 1/4 ct an inch. This proportion can be made even greater by lowering the small bearing 16 the amount required.

l l hen the water from the. tank is used it cold water is admitted from the snugly line connection 5 the temperature oi the tank nd bar 11 is again lowered, the bar contracts and opens the connections at the bottom to reverse manner to that described above and the process of heating the water and closing the circuit is repeated. El, however, hot water trom the supply line reaches ho tank the temperature oi' the tank and bar is not reduced so the circuitremains open and no current is consumed.

l. in an electric heater, the combination with a liquid container having a top and a bottom, of an electric heater at the bottom, circuit closer tor the heater at the lower end oi the container including an arm hung from the upper portion thereof, and a thermostatic elem nt at the top of the container and connected to the arm.

2. In an electric heater, the combination with a liquid container comprising a substantially cylindrical casing, atop and a bot tom, of an electric heater beneath the bottom, a circuit controller for the heater comprising spaced contact elements, and an arm hung from the top of the container and having a contact piece at its lower end that is movable into and out of engagement with the spaced contact elements, and a thermostatic har extending across the top of the container, one end of the bar being secured to the container and the other to the arm adjacent its mounting.

3. In an electric heater, the combination witha liquid container having atop and a bottom, of an electric heater at the bottom, a circuit closer tor the heater a the lower end of the container including an arm. hung "from the upper portion thereof, a thermostatic element at the top of the container Lnd connected to the arm, and a casing on the ct;- f the container housing the arm.

an electric heater, the combination \vif substantially cylindrical container having a top and a bottom and chambers respectively above and below the same, said 7) and-bottom having inlet and outlet nippl 13, of an electric heater in the lower chainher, a closure for the lower chamber secured to the lower nipple, a circuit controller iii-- eluding an arm extending alongside the container and hung from its upper end, a thei mostatic bar in the upper chamber connected at one end to the arm and having a hool; at the other end, a. keeper in the chamber engagedby the hook, and a housing for the arm extending alongside and secured to the container.

5. in an electric heater, the combination with a liquid'container having means at one end for connection with a hot water suppl pipe and means at the other end for connection with a hot water outlet pipe, said container having opposite end walls, of an electric heater located alongside and outside the end all at the inlet end oi the coir tainer, a circuit (-iimtrollcr for said electric r, and a thermostatic operatiinr ele ment for the cii'ciiiit controller local ed alongside and outside the end wall at the outlet end of the container.

ANDRBHV li lClIEY. Witnesses l VILLIs A. Ron, HENRY I. PETERSEN.

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